Annual Report 2019/20

Healthwatch Greenwich report on its key achievements for 2019/20.  It:

• Engaged extensively with local residents, supporting 3,210 people with information and signposting, attending 67 community events and outreach sessions, publishing 17 reports, and generating more than 113,000 digital engagements. 
• Influenced improvements to primary care through a borough-wide audit of GP websites, identifying weaknesses in accessibility, translation information, feedback mechanisms and patient information, leading to recommendations adopted in partnership with NHS commissioners. 
• Carried out a major review of autism services, engaging autistic people, parents, carers and professionals, and making recommendations to improve diagnosis pathways, information sharing, support services and awareness of autism across health, social care and education.
• Completed 10 Enter and View visits to care homes, observing nearly 300 residents and making 30 recommendations that helped improve areas such as safety, maintenance, dementia-friendliness, complaints awareness and resident autonomy. 
• Amplified the voices of underrepresented groups, including young carers, autistic people, and Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, ensuring their experiences influenced commissioning decisions, NHS Long Term Plan discussions and local service development.
• Played a significant role in the local response to Covid-19 by supporting Greenwich Mutual Aid, helping vulnerable residents access support, screening volunteers, providing signposting and coordinating community assistance during the pandemic.